Dennis L. Siluk
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Dr. Dennis Siluk giving his speech after receiving his Honorary Doctorate from the National University of Central Peru |
Dennis Lee Siluk (October 7, 1947 – December 1, 2016) was an
American poet and writer, who wrote over seventy International books. He was a poet since he was a kid of twelve
years old. Besides being a writer, he
was a Psychologist, Ordained Minister, Decorated Veteran from the Vietnam War,
Doctor in Arts and Education (by Belford University), and had received twice
Honorary Doctorate (by the National University of Central Peru, UNCP, and by
the Ibero-American Board in Honor of Leaders (CIHLL)).
Dr. Dennis L. Siluk was honored frequently during his
lifetime, receiving nine-times the distinction as Poet Laureate in Peru. One of
his books, “The Galilean”, took Honorable Mention at the 2016 Paris Book
Festival, and he had received an award from the Congress of Peru, for his
cultural writings. He was a world
traveler.
His first book, was published in 1981, his second in 1982
(during this time his poetry was being published by a Minneapolis Newspaper,
along with some of his short stories in selected books by independent
publishers.)
He was called
by the Lord to his Presence on the first of December 2016.
Biography
Early Years
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Dennis L. Siluk in Vietnam, 1970
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Dennis Lee Siluk, born on October 7, 1947, in Saint Paul,
Minnesota, United States of America. His father was of Irish origins and his
mother of Russian and Polish stock. Dennis grew up under the protection of his
mother ((Elsie T. Siluk)(1920-2003)) and his grandfather ((Anton
Siluk)(1891-1974)), of Russian birth who came to America in 1916, participated
in the First World War (1918), in which he had to return to Europe for a year,
then married Ella of Polish stock and settled in St. Paul. Dennis has one
brother, Mike Siluk (October 8, 1945).
Since Dennis was a child he enjoyed poetry, and at the age
of twelve wrote his first poem ‘Who,’ thereafter, a number of his poetry was
published in his high school newspaper, while in journalism class, at
Washington High School, in St. Paul, Minnesota (‘Beyond Time,’ and ‘Typing,’).
Some of these early poems can be found in his first book, “The Other Door”
(1981, now a classic and much sought after book). In 1965, at the age of
16-years old, he had won second place in the city of St. Paul, art competition
(sponsored by the: Jaycees), at Washington High School. During this period
between the ages of twelve and fourteen years old, he worked as a shoeshine
boy, until he got his first real job at the World Theater, as an usher, and
candy counter distributor.
At the age of twenty Dennis had already become a somewhat,
seasoned traveler; he had traveled with an assortment of friends across the
country, staying in Omaha, Nebraska, working across the river. Also he had
traveled to Seattle Washington, living there in the Ballard District, working
for a window frame company. Things did not work out for him, with his friends
so he returned after a short visit, perhaps a month or so.
Dennis’ next trip was his first long trip in that he’d stay
for a year; in 1968 he went to San Francisco where he learned Karate (Go Jo
Rue) from the renowned Gosei Yamaguchi who became his protector also, during
his stay in San Francisco and during this year he met on a personal level,
Gogan, Gosei’s father known as, “The Cat,” here he studied and taught children
the art of Karate, and was in one tournament.
At the age of twenty-two Dennis enter into the United States
Army (participating in the Vietnam War in 1971, and receiving three medals of
Accommodation, for his outstanding service, during these years, he became a
Staff Sergeant (eight plus, years Active, and three years Inactive Reserve)).
During his tours of duty, his permanence in the Army assisted him in the
financial burden for paying his college education, he attended the University
of Maryland (1974-76) receiving his first degree in Behavioral Science; during
this time he also attended Central Texas College (where he took only two
courses).
Thereafter, in Alabama, he continued his education at Troy
State University, receiving his second degree, in Psychology and Literature.
Thereafter, he attended the University of Minnesota (for Psychology, and
Counseling), and Liberty University (doing studies in Theology), mostly
graduate and post graduate work. Thereafter, Dennis received his License, in
the State of Minnesota in counseling area, his expertise being in developmental
psychology, and dual disorders, coupled with drugs and alcohol.
Adult Years
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Dr. Dennis L. Siluk in his home in Lima, Peru, 2014 |
During the 1990s, for the most part (1988 to 2001) Dennis
worked for private institutions, clinics, and likewise with the Bureau of
Prison, while still writing. His first book, was published in 1981, his second
in 1982 (during this time his poetry was being published by a Minneapolis
Newspaper, along with some of his short stories in selected books by
independent publishers). Thus, he stopped his professional career in June of
2001 because of an impending illness, and did just writing as he could, taking
up much of his old unfinished manuscripts trying to smooth them out, along with
his poetry.
During the 1990s Dennis became an ordained minister by the
International Church of Jesus Christ, allowing him to evangelize to whoever
asked at the same time he was doing his work as a Counselor.
Dennis L. Siluk has traveled twenty-six times around the
world. He had been to over fifty countries, and to forty-six states out of
fifty of the United States. His most recent trips were in 2007, where he went
to Iguaçu Falls on both sides, in Argentina, and Brazil (and would return there
in March of 2010); he went to Cajamarca in Peru, and in 2006, and to the Panama
Canal. In 2010 he went to Israel, visiting Jerusalem, Tiberias (and the:
‘Circle of Rephaim’) and Tel Aviv. Met Amir Or, one of Israel’s most noted
poets, they had coffee and juice together at ‘Bistro’ Café in Tel Aviv.
While he was doing all these activities, he continued
writing articles on psychology, for a counseling magazine, along with his poems
and short stories for such magazines as “Swiftt” a magazine out of Australia,
and “Leaves” a magazine out of India, and “Caminos” in Peru. His poems,
articles, tales, etc., can be read on over 4000-websites, worldwide. He edited
and translated with his wife, Rosa, the poetry of Juan Parra del Riego, the
most skilled poet Peru has ever produced in the past, the first time to be put
into English, and now in the book “The Windmills.” His writings have been translated into five
languages (Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean, Serbian, and of course in
English).
Dennis L. Siluk had written over seventy books. A number of
his books have been about the cultures, traditions and the ways of life in
Peru, in English and Spanish. He had received acknowledgments and awards for
his work done in Peru. He had produced over 4100-poems, 700-short stories and
tales, 1400-articles in addition to his over 70-books, and several-chapbooks
(several of these poetic children’s chapbooks were written in the 1980s between
1982 and 1984 and are rarely seen, if not almost extinct—and sold as classics
on eBay—some only one hundred copies were made.)
In 2005 Dr. Siluk was appointed The Poet Laureate of San
Jeronimo de Tunan, Huancayo, Peru, and he received diplomas of acknowledgment
for his works on the Mantaro Valley of Peru by the University Los Andes. In
2006 he received the Grand Cross of the City of San Jeronimo de Tunan, also he
had received a diploma as the Best Writer of 2006 for promoting culture, given
by Antena Regional; likewise he had received a diploma of Excellence as the
Poet and Writer of 2006, given by Corporation of Autonomous Press (in 2007); in
a like manner he had received acknowledgment for his works on the Mantaro
Valley of Peru by the National University of the Center of Peru, and by the
Professional Association of Journalists of Junin-Huancavelica of Peru. He also
received two Columnist awards, 2004 and 2005, and one of his stories was
elected story of the month for October, 2006, by ‘The English Magazine’
In 2007, Dr. Siluk was appointed The Poet Laureate of Cerro
de Pasco, Peru; and Poet Laureate of the Mantaro Valley, Peru; he was also
awarded Honorary Journalist by the Professional association of Journalists of
Peru. In addition he got his Doctor degree in Arts and Education from Belford
University of Texas, USA, due to his studies, experience, writings and published
works. In 2011 Dr. Siluk was appointed The Poet Laureate of the cities of
Huancayo, Satipo, Chilca, Nueve de Julio, and in 2012 the Poet Laureate of
Canchayllo, all of them in Peru. On
January 30, 2012 he had received his first Honorary Doctorate from the National
University of Central Peru (UNCP). On June 29, 2013 he had received his second
Honorary Doctorate from the Ibero-American Board in Honor to the Leaders of
Leaders (CIHLL).
From 2005 through 2016 Dr. Dennis L. Siluk was honored
frequently for his works on Peru by several Peruvian Public and Private
Institution, as well as the Peruvian government institutions.
Works
1. The Other
Door, Volume I (1981)
2. The Tale
of Willie the Humpback Whale (1982)
3. The Tale
of Freddy the Foolish Frog (1982)
4. The Tale
of Teddy and his Magical Plant (1983)
5. The
Little Rose Smile (1983)
6. Two
Modern Short Stories of Immigrant Life (1984)
7. The Safe
Child/the Unsafe Child (1985)
8. The Last
Trumpet and the Woodbridge Demon
9. Angelic
Renegades & Rephaim Giants
10. Tales of
the Tiamat (trilogy)
11. Tiamat,
Mother of Demon I
12. Gwyllion,
Daughter of the Tiamat II
13. Revenge of
the Tiamat III
14. Mantic
ore: Day of the Beast
15. Chasing
the Sun (Travels of D.L Siluk)
16. Islam, In
Search of Satan’s Rib
17. A Path to
Sobriety
18. A Path to
Relapse Prevention
19. Aftercare:
Chemical Dependency Recovery
20. A Romance
in Augsburg
21. Romancing
San Francisco
22. Where the
Birds Don’t Sing
23. Stay Down,
Old Abram
24. Perhaps
it’s Love (Minnesota to Seattle)
25. Cold
Kindness (Dieburg, Germany)
26. Death on
Demand (Seven Suspenseful Short Stories)
27. Dracula’s
Ghost (And other peculiar stories)
28. The
Mumbler (psychological)
29. After Eve
(a prehistoric adventure)
30. Sirens
(Poems-Volume II, 2003)
31. The
Macabre Poems (Poems-Volume III, 2004)
32. Last
Autumn and Winter (Minnesota poems, 2006)
33. Spell of
the Andes (Bilingual)2005
34. Peruvian
Poems (Bilingual)2005
35. Poetic
Images Out of Peru (Bilingual)2006
36. The Magic
of the Avelinos (Bilingual)2006
37. The Road
to Unishcoto (Bilingual)2007
38. The Poetry
of Stone Forest (Bilingual) 2007
39. The Tale
of the Jumping Serpents of Bosnia (2008)
40. The
Windmills (Bilingual)
41. Cornfield
Laughter (Bilingual) (2009)
42. Men With
Torrent Women (2009)
43. A Leaf and
a Rose (2009)
44. Stone Heap
of the Wildcat (2010)
45. The Cotton
Belt (2011)
46. Poems on
Peru (a collection of several chapbooks)
47. The People
Will Not Break (Bilingual) 2012
48. Days
(2014)
49. The
Galilean (Series of 6 chapbooks)
50. The
Galilean (Bilingual) 2015
51. Feast of
the Wolfhound
52. In my Time
53. Willie the
Humpback Whale (bilingual)
54. Ebony in
Eden
55. Men among
Men
56. Out of
Quantum Space and Time
57. Times and
Seasons
58. Eldritch
Poems
59. A Way you
have to Be
60. Alcoholismo la Maldición del Diablo (only Spanish)
61. Old Josh
62. Winner or
Loser takes Nothing
63. A
Changeable Banquet
64. To Want
and Want Not
65. An
Unsuspecting Life
66. Nowhere into
Nothing
67. Worlds
Beyond
68. Susanna of
Bethsaida
69. Things
Come to their End
70. The
Protagonist
71. Stars Over
Germany
72. The Dark
Side of Polaris
73. Susanna of
Bethsaida (Bilingual)
74. Six Plays
by Dr. Dennis L. Siluk
75. The
Artwork of Dr. Dennis L. Siluk (Volume I)
76. The
Artwork of Dr. Dennis L. Siluk (Volume II)
77. The
Nazarene
Signature
Grave site
Dr. Dennis L. Siluk's body, rest in the General Cemetery of the city of Huancayo, in Peru, where those who came to know him visit and raise a prayer to the Most High.
Website
http://dennissiluk.tripod.com/
External links
http://vozperuana.blogspot.com/2012/01/uncp-condecora-al-dr-dennis-l-siluk-en.html
Dr. Dennis Siluk receiving the Honorary Doctorate by the National University of
Central Peru
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dennis+siluk&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Adennis+siluk Dr. Dennis L. Siluk books he wrote.
https://fr-news.net/news/dr+dennis+siluk Dennis Siluk
receiving awards
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/dennis+siluk?_requestid=17374195 Books by Dennis L. Siluk
https://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookSearchResults.aspx?Search=Dennis%20siluk Books by Dennis L. Siluk
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-home-_-Results&an=dennis+siluk&tn=&kn=&isbn= Books by Dennis L. Siluk
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Trumpet-Woodbridge-Demon/dp/0805956212 Books by Dennis L. Siluk
https://id-news.com/online/dr-dennis-lee-siluk-doctor-honoris-causa-channel-4-america-tv-_iBkYexXEnY.html Dr. Dennis Lee Siluk, Doctor Honoris Causa
(Channel 4, America TV)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=SN&hl=fr&v=1COLjbWJcnA Poet Laureate of Huancayo
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Laguna_de_Paca.html A poem by Poet Laureate of Peru, Dr. Dennis
L. Siluk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEAs-rr1TZk Poet Laureate of Huancayo,
http://dlsiluk-dennissiluktripodcom.blogspot.com/2008/02/who-dennis-siluks-first-poemput-back.html First poem by Dennis L. Siluk
https://www.google.com/search?q=receiving+honorary+doctorate+UNCP+DENNIS+SILUK&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjik9v80tbcAhWFzVkKHUT3AV8QsAR6BAgDEAE&biw=1366&bih=667#imgrc=nqH2PUKwhaWuiM: Dr. Dennis Lee Siluk with the authorities of
the University and the Mayor of Huancayo, after receiving his honorary
doctorate Peru.30/01/12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPTc_R2xKBE Dr. Dennis L. Siluk on Channel 4 receiving
his honorary doctorate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0__IKcxId4E Dennis L. Siluk receiving honorary doctorate
by the Ibero-American Board in Honor to Leaders of Leaders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9gv5_mhOdg Dennis L. Siluk receiving an award by the
Municipality of San Juan de Miraflores, Lima, Peru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Exb88np1o Dennis L. Siluk receiving an award in the
Peruvian Congress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra0UsLkTmRg Dennis L. Siluk receiving an Award in the
Congress of Peru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tr7RzVUZS0 Dr. Dennis Siluk readings his poetry - CIHLL
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Birds-Dont-Sing-l971-Vietnam/dp/059528180X Dennis L. Siluk on Vietnam
https://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000998368
The Galilean
(Poems for the Soul) a poetry book that took Honorable
Mention at the 2016 Paris Book Festival
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/216264.Dennis_L_Silu Books by Dennis L. Siluk
https://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000018711 Dennis L. Siluk book on addiction
http://dennissiluk.tripod.com/id7.html Trips of Dr. Dennis L. Siluk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtutqvT4zzM Poet Dennis L.
Siluk and Israeli Poet Amir Or at the Cafe Bistro, in Tel Aviv talking about
poetry, language, the Rephaim Circle, and other topics over coffee and juices,
with Siluk's wife.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/139-8416149-4536107?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dennis+siluk Books by Dennis L. Siluk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns7nuPRtSIE Recognition granted to Dr. Siluk by the
Congress and the Peruvian Chamber...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=104vpQ9hN7Q Poet Laureate Dennis Siluk meets President of
Peru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCuIHDolOL8 Villa Rica, Peru Poetry Reading with Dennis
L. Siluk